Misbranded

"Misbranded" delves into the 1937 tragedy of the Elixir of Sulfanilamide, a deadly medicine sold without safety testing. Through the lives of a widowed pharmacy worker, the chemist who made the medicine, and a conflicted pharmacist, the novel highlights personal loss, heroic efforts, and the transformative impact of a disaster that reshaped drug safety laws.

In "Misbranded", the fall of 1937 marks a turning point in American history as a deadly medicine, the Elixir of Sulfanilamide, devastates families nationwide. Marketed without proper safety testing, the Elixir is given to children by trusting parents, with fatal consequences. As deaths mount, the FDA launches an urgent, nationwide campaign to retrieve the toxic drug, battling resistance from pharmacists, physicians, and the manufacturer. The story weaves together the lives of those impacted by this tragedy. Harold Watkins, the chemist who created the Elixir, is haunted by the deaths his work caused, leaving his life in ruins. Betty Carlson, a widowed mother working at her father's pharmacy, joins the FDA's investigation, facing challenges that alter her relationships and identity. Her father, Arthur Ryan, a pharmacist who dispensed the Elixir, grapples with guilt and reevaluates his career and family life in the wake of his customers' deaths. This richly detailed historical fiction captures the human cost of lax drug regulations and the sweeping changes that followed the tragedy. "Misbranded" offers an inspiring and heart-wrenching tale of personal loss, resilience, and the societal reform born from profound tragedy—perfect for readers who love compelling, character-driven historical narratives.

Ann Richards-Farnsworth is an American novelist. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she received a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Emerson College. She has spent over thirty years working in the pharmaceutical industry where she became fascinated by the history of food and drug regulation. After years of telling the Elixir of Sulfanilamide story as part of training for new employees, she began writing her debut novel to answer the many questions she had about this tragedy. When she's not writing, she can be found spending time with family and hiking with her dogs. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her wife and step-children.